By Paul Effiong, Abuja
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas has announced the withdrawal of the Bill to Amend the Electoral Act 2022 to make voting mandatory for all eligible Nigerians, which he co-sponsored with Daniel Ago.
The speaker, who made the announcement on Monday in a press statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Krishi, said the decision followed extensive consultations with a broad spectrum of stakeholders.
According to the statement, “From the outset, the Bill was introduced with the best of intentions, which is to bolster civic engagement and strengthen our democracy by encouraging higher voter turnout.”
He informed that compulsory voting had long been practised with notable success in countries such as Australia, Belgium and Brazil, where it had helped to sustain participation rates above 90 percent, while nations like Argentina and Singapore had also implemented similar measures to foster inclusivity at the ballot box.
Nevertheless, the speaker acknowledged that lawmaking is ultimately about the people it serves and that any reform must respect individual freedom and public sentiments. Rather than compel participation, he is committed to exploring positive incentives and innovative approaches that will make voting more attractive and accessible to all Nigerians.
He noted that the withdrawal would allow time for further dialogue on how best to cultivate a culture of voluntary participation that honours both the nation’s democratic ideals and the rights of citizens.
